In Febuary, this year, I was walking near St Nicolas in the Vale of Glamorgan, in Wales. I was on a footpath with my dog on a lead.
Continue reading “Dillwyn’s story”Dillwyn’s story
The saw us – and charged across the field.
Category: Spoiled walks
Richard’s Story: helping a fellow walker escape
Had he tripped, it could have been fatal.
On the 8th June, I was walking on a footpath through Wild Bank Moors, just past the trig point, near Stalybridge. I was on my own and had my dog on a lead.
Continue reading “Richard’s Story: helping a fellow walker escape”Sarah’s Story: my dogs were chased by a herd of cows.
I was terrified, and couldn’t find my dog anywhere.
On the 1st June, 2022, I was walking on a public footpath on Hob Moor, near Acomb, with my two small dogs on a lead. A herd of cows came towards me, and I let my dogs off the lead.
Continue reading “Sarah’s Story: my dogs were chased by a herd of cows.”Andy’s story: leapt over a fence to escape
Unprovoked attack by cows on The Weaver’s Way
On the 30th May, 2020, I was walking from Acle to Berney Arms along the Weavers Way path. The incident happened after passing through Halvergate and crossing the Fleet river into open countryside.
Continue reading “Andy’s story: leapt over a fence to escape”Keith J’s story: charged by bulls
When they saw me, they charged.
On the 28th August, 2021, I was walking with my partner between Gillamoor, North Yorkshire, to Hutton-Le-Hole. We were on a public footpath crossing farmland.
Continue reading “Keith J’s story: charged by bulls”A Tale of Three Walks: close encounters with cattle.
cornered by herds of cattle
- Rod’s story
On the 9th August, 2020, I was walking along a public footpath in Norton village, near Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire (grid reference TL 23241 34541). I was on my own and didn’t have a dog with me.
I noticed the cows as I was walking through the footpath, but they were in a far corner and peacefully grazing. As I reached around midway through the field they began moving towards me. They then blocked my path and one ran towards me. I put my hands up and talked calmly, backing away slowly. They continued pursuing me. I fell over while walking backward and the same one approached again. I ended up backing back to the gate and leaving the field.
My main worry would be if that footpath was used by children, or families with children who didn’t know how to behave around cattle, this incident could have ended much worse.
Respondent ID: 240210409
2. A couple’s story
On the 9th August, 2020, we were walking on a public footpath near Brailsford, Derbyshire, in a field just southwest of the Post Office.
We saw a group of black bullocks standing in the field, so decided to give them a wide berth (c. 70 metres). We have been through this field before, but the cattle have either all been lying down or have been in another part of the field c. 250 metres away. However, today they were standing up.
I noticed that very soon they started walking purposefully towards us. I would estimate that there were approximately 15-20 animals.
I ran to the gate, but my wife isn’t as quick. She picked up a stick, which she waved at them in order to keep them at bay. I went back to help her, and started shouting and screaming at the bullocks to provide a decoy. This helped to distract them, and to allow my wife to get to the gate too.
It was very frightening, especially for my wife.
We did report the incident to the police. Ideally, we’d the cattle to be moved somewhere else so that they are no longer a nuisance to those using a public footpath. Failing that, some warning signs MUST be put up if the farmer doesn’t wish to face prosecution.
Respondent ID: 240210310
3. CS’s story
On the 19th August, 2020, I was walking along a public footpath near Morton, Derbyshire (Grid Reference SK 40048 60921). I was on my own in the field, with my two dogs on a lead.
One of the cows in the field took a dislike to us and started stomping and huffing. Then it got ready to charge!
The herd cornered us. I had to climb through a barbed wire fence to escape, as unable to find another way to safety. The dogs were unharmed, but I had some scratches and bruises.
Respondent ID: 240476237
Chris’s Story: a scary encounter with cows and a bull
The bull appeared in front of the gate… about two metres away.
On the 13th June, 2021, I was walking with a group along a footpath in Eaton Dale, near Alsop en le Dale, in the Peak District (Grid reference: SV 16978 55586)
We came to a field with a waterhole next to the gate. Did a check of the field before entering, and saw there were cows but did not see a bull or calves. They looked like dairy cows.
Continue reading “Chris’s Story: a scary encounter with cows and a bull”A Farmer’s Story: charged by cattle
I trust cows, but I know when they turn…
On the 3rd April, 2021, I was walking with my family through Aston Hall Farm, in Wen, Shropshire. We were following the footpath, and I had my working gun-dog on a lead, who has been brought up on our own farm. We didn’t see any warning signs, but there was cattle in the field – a group of heifers and bullocks, dairy cross.
Continue reading “A Farmer’s Story: charged by cattle”Jolene’s Story: circled by cows
I tried to walk around the cows, but they kept circling.
On the 17th March, 2021, I was walking my dog on our regular walking route, along the footpath which runs across a field in Stoke Edith, just right off the road towards Perton quarry. This is in Herefordshire, between Tarrington and Dormington.
Continue reading “Jolene’s Story: circled by cows”Rose’s story: surrounded by charging cows
I started to feel uneasy. Something wasn’t right.
A couple of days ago (on the 11th May 2021) I was walking on my own along a public footpath in Devon.
I was walking through a field that I’ve walked through multiple times before. This time, however, I saw there were cattle in the field – at least twenty cows, maybe more. I’d walked through fields with cattle many times before, so I wasn’t worried. They were on the other side of the field, and I kept my distance.
Continue reading “Rose’s story: surrounded by charging cows”Matt’s story: chased over barbed wire
Suddenly, the cows charged right at us.
In April, 2019, me and my wife wanted to use a public footpath to walk into Retford. So, we started walking along a footpath which runs from Grove, through some fields, and down to Grove Coach Road.
Continue reading “Matt’s story: chased over barbed wire”Cheryl’s story: blocked footpaths and a ruined walk
There are plenty of empty fields around, but…
On the 8th of August, 2020, I was walking with my husband along a public footpath near Taddington, which is near Buxton in Derbyshire.
Continue reading “Cheryl’s story: blocked footpaths and a ruined walk”
